News and Journal
By Jim Hunt for the News and Journal
Like a winding country road, life takes unexpected turns and detours that can be hard to navigate. The loss of a loved one, a devastating tragedy, or even life’s smaller potholes test our strength and courage. In those moments, family and friends become the guardrails that keep us steady.
I was reminded of that truth on a recent trip to Florida to visit my wife’s first cousin and her son. My wife’s beloved aunt had passed away a few months earlier after a long battle with Alzheimer’s, and we wanted to pay our respects and see her grandson, Cole, play football for his high school team.
The past few years have been especially hard for their family—caring for two elderly parents during COVID and losing their home and nearly everything in it during Hurricane Helene just over a year ago. I visited Terri and Cole last year while attending the National League of Cities Conference in Tampa, only weeks after the storm.
She described how quickly the floodwaters rose—chest-deep inside the house. Previous hurricanes had brought only a few inches, but this one struck without warning. Cole’s football teammates and close friends helped carry water-soaked furniture and memories out to the dumpsters that lined their driveway. When she drove me by the house, the devastation was overwhelming mold spreading across the walls and precious keepsakes beyond saving.
This year, life has slowly moved forward. Their old home has been demolished, and they’ve settled into a new townhouse. Cole, now a junior, is the starting tackle for the Plant High School Panthers. But losing a home and then a mother within months was almost unbearable for Terri.
With tears in her eyes, she told us about her mother’s final hours. A music therapist had sat beside her bedside, unaware of her West Virginia roots, and began to sing “Country Roads.” That familiar song seemed to lift the room, offering comfort and peace when words could no longer help.
Terri said her healing began one evening at one of Cole’s football games when she again heard “Country Roads” over the loudspeaker. She looked to the sky and felt her mother’s presence. It was as if the song had found her again, this time in a moment of joy rather than sorrow.
When we arrived at the stadium to watch the Plant High School Panthers take on the Wharton High School Warriors for their Homecoming game, the weather was perfect, and the band was playing the National Anthem.
In Florida, football is more than a sport—it’s a way of life. The team practices year-round, and the players, parents, and coaches become an extended family. Terri shared how the team’s kindness during their recovery helped carry her through some of her darkest days.
We spotted Cole in his number 66 uniform standing tall with his teammates. As the game unfolded, he played a strong, steady role on the line, helping open paths for the runners and protect his quarterback. Then, during a timeout, I heard a familiar tune coming from the loudspeakers.
In the heart of Florida, “Country Roads” began to play. Cole turned toward the stands, and I saw Terri’s eyes fill with tears. It was a heart-stopping moment—one of those rare times when life seems to pause just long enough to remind us that love and memory never truly fade. Whether coincidence or something more, the Panthers went on to win that night under the warm glow of a fall evening.
After the game, we joined Cole and his friends as they prepared for their Homecoming dance, all smiles and excitement. Life, as it does, moves forward. It twists and turns, sometimes gently, sometimes harshly.
But every now and then, a song, a memory, or a Friday night under the lights reminds us that no matter where we are, we’re still on the right road—the one that always leads us home.